Grandparent Scams

Grandparent scams are among the most emotionally manipulative cons targeting seniors. In these schemes, scammers pose as a grandchild or other relative, calling or texting to claim they are in immediate trouble. They often pretend to be involved in an accident, arrested for a crime, or in urgent need of medical help. The scammer pleads for financial assistance, asking the grandparent to wire money or send funds via gift cards or cryptocurrency. To make the story more convincing, the scammer may know personal details about the grandchild, obtained through social media or public records, and they often beg the grandparent not to tell anyone else in the family.

Late at night or early in the morning, you receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild. The caller’s voice may sound distressed or muffled, and they say they’ve been in a car accident, arrested, or stranded in a foreign country. They need money immediately to pay for bail, medical expenses, or travel costs. The "grandchild" may pass the phone to another person posing as a lawyer or police officer to further legitimize the story. They might ask for money to be wired or for prepaid gift cards to be purchased and provided as payment. They stress that you shouldn’t tell other family members because they’re embarrassed or scared. In reality, the call is coming from a scammer who has carefully researched your family connections online to sound convincing.

• Urgent Request for Money: If someone calls claiming to be a relative and urgently requests money for an emergency, especially for legal or medical reasons, it’s a strong sign of a scam.
• Request for Secrecy: Scammers often plead with the victim to keep the situation secret, claiming that they don’t want to worry or upset other family members.
• Untraceable Payment Methods: If the caller requests that money be sent via wire transfer, prepaid gift cards, or cryptocurrency, this is a red flag. Scammers prefer these methods because they are difficult to trace and recover.
• Vague or Inconsistent Details: The caller may avoid answering specific questions about the situation, their location, or why their voice sounds different. They may claim their voice has changed due to stress or injury.
• Unusual Timing: These calls often come at odd hours, such as late at night or early in the morning, when the victim is more likely to be groggy or less alert.

Additional Warning:
Always verify the caller’s identity by contacting other family members before sending any money. Ask specific questions that only your real grandchild would know, and never provide financial information over the phone without confirmation. Scammers often use publicly available information, such as names and family connections found on social media, to make their stories more believable.